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Hydrogen peroxide - a greener alternative to chlorine bleach
Chlorine bleach is a chemical that most of us have in our homes. It's very handy for multiple applications including cleaning and disinfecting; but may not be all that earth friendly. A good alternative to consider is hydrogen peroxide.
Most of the debate about chlorine bleach (sodium hypochlorite) stems from its ability to form more toxic byproducts such as dioxin, furans and other organochlorines when reacting with other elements.
Hydrogen Peroxide on the other hand, is simply water with an extra oxygen molecule (H2O2) and breaks down into oxygen and water. It's certainly kinder on the environment. H2O2 is produced by both animal and plant cells and is formed naturally in the environment by sunlight acting on water.
Many industrial bleaching operations, such as those used in the production of paper, are increasingly moving towards the use of hydrogen peroxide for a greener bleaching process. It's also the active ingredient in many "oxygen" bleaches and is used extensively for lightening hair.
Do be careful when purchasing and handling this substance as some commercially available "food grade" hydrogen peroxide is 35% pure, highly corrosive and can be toxic or fatal if ingested at that strength.
Hydrogen peroxide should be diluted down to 3% as a base for most applications. It's also readily available in 3% solution from your local pharmacy or drugstore; which is probably the preferable and safer way to buy it, especially if you can take your empty bottles back for exchange/refilling - that can help cut down the cost.
If you choose to dilute a 35% solution yourself, add the hydrogen peroxide to distilled water rather than the other way around and wear gloves, body and eye protection when doing so.
Hydrogen Peroxide tips and uses
- Keep it out of direct sunlight and in a cool place, as exposure to the sun and heat will quickly break it down into oxygen and water; rendering it ineffective. Store it in a dark bottle and remember to keep it out of reach of children.
- Dip your toothbrush in a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide solution to help kill bacteria on the brush after brushing.
- A tablespoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide solution in a cup of water can be used as a mouthwash - swish for up to 60 seconds once a day; but don't swallow and be sure to rinse your mouth out afterwards. This can also help whiten teeth.
- Hydrogen peroxide in a 3% solution applied to a rag can be used to clean benchtops and cutting boards to help kill salmonella and other bacteria
- Half fill a spray bottle with a 3% solution and then top it up with water for use as a bathroom and toilet disinfectant and cleaner. This is especially useful if you have a septic, greywater or blackwater treatment system as it won't harm the bacteria in the treatment areas - the hydrogen peroxide would have diluted to a point that renders it harmless by that stage through the interaction with flush water.
- Mix a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution with two parts water in a spray bottle and use on areas affected by mold. You can try a neat 3% solution for areas like bathroom tiling, but be careful on the strength in relation to painted items as it may bleach them.
- Make a whitening toothpaste by mixing baking soda and enough 3% Hydrogen Peroxide to form a paste
- Use 3% hydrogen peroxide to sterilize cuts and abrasions - the fizzing you'll see occur is normal.
- To help kill bacteria such as E. Coli on fruits and vegetables, add a quarter cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide to a sink full of cold water. immerse, rinse with cold water and drain. By killing bacteria this will also help keep fruit and vegetables fresher for longer. You can also use a spraybottle containing a 50/50 mix of 3% hydrogen peroxide and water - just spray and rinse.
- Add a cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide to your whites wash in place of bleaches
- Remove bloodstains from clothing by blotting stain with 3% hydrogen peroxide, then rinse promptly with cold water to avoid bleaching of the fabric.
- To remove yellowing from lace curtains or tablecloths, fill a sink with cold water and a 2 cups of 3% hydrogen peroxide. Soak for at least an hour, rinse in cold water and air dry
So there you have it - hydrogen peroxide can not only be a more earth friendly replacement for chlorine bleach, but has many more uses around your home!
In researching this article, I found all sorts of weird and wonderful tips relating to ingesting and inhaling hydrogen peroxide. Some claimed cures for cancer and many other ailments. Please, consult your doctor before ingesting hydrogen peroxide - bear in mind that it can be quite corrosive in higher concentrations and cause damage to your respiratory and digestive tract.
Michael Bloch
Green Living Tips.com
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Comments
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Comment #1
(Posted by Mercy)
You can also use it to get red wine or red punch stains out of your carpet after a spill. Also good when dogs pee on the carpet. Takes out the smell so that they wont pee there again.
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Comment #2
(Posted by )
I tried the hydrogen peroxide/baking soda paste on my kitchen faucet and it removed most of the water stains and made it shine like new.
I dried the area then rubbed the paste on with my fingers for a few minutes and then rinsed it off with water.
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Comment #3
(Posted by Guenther)
How does HP react with amalgam fillings and gold crowns if you use it as a mouthwash?
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Comment #4
(Posted by Michael - Green Living Tips)
Thanks for the tips Mercy and "unknown" :)
Guenther, according to testing done by Unilever in 2003, a 6% hydrogen peroxide gel was tested on dental gold and amalgam and there were no significant effects. You can read more of the research abstract here: http://tinyurl.com/2z2e6v (I needed to use a URL shortening service as the link to the abstract was incredibly long)
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Comment #5
(Posted by Sylvia)
My family has been using Hydrogen Peroxide to keep our ear canals clean. Just lay on one side and pour a capful in your ear canal and hold for a few minutes. It tickles like crazy because of all the bubbling it does but I've been doing this since I was a kid and it's safe as can be.
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Comment #6
(Posted by Michael - Green Living Tips)
Hi Sylvia - thanks for the tip - what % hydrogen peroxide mix do you use? It can be rather dangerous stuff if used incorrectly; particularly when it's being applied to skin or used internally.
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Comment #7
(Posted by DIANA)
Hydrogen peroxide and also be used for cleaning mirrors and glass. Do not spray - put on a coffee filter and just wipe. Take off excess hydrogen peroxide with a dry coffee filter - or a lintless cloth
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Comment #8
(Posted by Michael - Green Living Tips)
Thanks for the tip Dianna!
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Comment #9
(Posted by Marsha Christoph)
Concerning the use of hydrogen peroxide on cuts and abrasions, there has been some "new thinking" that has developed over the past few years. My physician advises NOT using H2O2. He explained that it's corrosiveness, even at 3% dilution, can damage the edges of the tissue that would close up/heal the wound. That's what is happening when the bubbling and fizzing is going on---it's killing the healthy tissue needed to close the wound! This complicates the healing process and prolongs healing time. I did some research to see if other physicians agreed. One of the articles I found was in the magazine Emergency Medicine (2004). Dr. Jaconson, a professor and chairman of the department of emergency medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, commented on the use of H2O2: "The only irrigating solution that has been shown to be effective and relatively innocuous is normal saline. Almost any other foreign substance that is placed in a wound can delay healing and damage granulating wounds. As a general rule, if the substance cannot be used in the eye, it should not be introduced into wounds(for irrigation). In reviewing the utility of hydrogen peroxide in emergency practices, we find that there are actually no situations in which this agent can be recommended as the primary approach to wound management."
I realize we don't normally have sterile saline in our homes. But flushing with clean bottled, distilled or filtered water would work for cuts that can be treated at home. I really liked Dr. Jacobson's "rule of thumb"---before putting a substance in a wound to irrigate it, ask yourself if you'd put the substance in your eye. Personally, pouring Hydrogen peroxide into my eye is NOT on my "To Do" list! :o)
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Comment #10
(Posted by jake3988)
Nearly all anti-septics are based from hydrogen peroxide and for the longest time have been heralded as the best prevention for infection. Obviously that doctor is either mistaken or doesn't want to lose the money from buying cheap hydrogen peroxide instead of his drugs. Who knows. Maybe there is something better out there, but I'd rather take something that's slightly worse for much cheaper price :)
Anyway, I've also heard that hydrogen peroxide is very very good for fungus on toenails and fingernails. I STILL haven't tried it yet, I'll report back hopefully in a few months and see what happens and see if it works (I'm pretty desperate at this point).
Great informing article as always!
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Comment #11
(Posted by Rob)
jake3988, where do you get your info from? I can't think of any anti-septics that are based on hydrogen peroxide.
Hydrogen peroxide is STILL a bleaching agent, and after seeing its properties with my own eyes in the lab I will not be putting it on any open wounds or near my face. But it definitely is a good desinfectant for surfaces and toilets etc.
Think about it, if it's able to kill bacterial cells, what's it going to do to your own skin cells?
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Comment #12
(Posted by marrisa)
can hydrogen peroxide lighten your elbows and knees?
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Comment #13
(Posted by David)
According to Wikipedia, oxidative antiseptics, like hydrogen perioxide, will cause mild damage to tissue in open wounds; but so will most antiseptics like Isopropyl Alcohol or Povidone-Iodine, so the best and greenest way to reduce germs on a wound is to wash the area with warm water and soap.
One more safety tip I found on Wikipedia was that hydrogen peroxide vapors can form sensitive contact explosives with hydrocarbons such as greases. Hazardous reactions ranging from ignition to explosion have been reported with alcohols, ketones, carboxylic acids (particularly acetic acid), amines and phosphorus. In other words, make sure you thoroughly clean the object first (without using any of the compounds listed above) before you disinfect it with hydrogen peroxide.
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Comment #14
(Posted by Jeannie)
For jake3988 or anyone with fungal problems try a 50/50 vinegar and water solution, it works really great, though it does sting a bit. Another good product for a fungus is neem. It is made from a tree in India and is great for all types of skin problems. It can be found at www.neem.us.
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Comment #15
(Posted by )
Does anyone know where I can purchase hydrogen peroxide GEL in a 3% solution? It has become so hard to find and the reason I like the gel is because I am use it while traveling and it seems to work better than the liquid for me. I cold also use a higher % and I can dilute it I believe
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Comment #16
(Posted by Janine de Blois)
Hydrogen Peroxide can indeed damage healthy tissue-even the 3% strength that is sold in the drug store. It MUST be DILUTED. My dentist strongly warned me of this when he told me to gargle using hydrogen peroxide to get rid of a gum infection. He said NEVER to use more than ONE TABLESPOON of the 3% solution in a CUPFUL of water. He teaches other dentists at the university, so he knows what he is talking about. The doctor mentioned above (and others) have probably seen too many cases where people did not dilute the hydrogen peroxide properly and damaged otherwise healthy tissue.
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Comment #17
(Posted by Michael - Green Living Tips)
Janine, thanks for that information - I've updated the article
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Comment #18
(Posted by HumanJHawkins)
Almost all medicines and sterilizing agents (including saline, a.k.a. NaCl or table salt) are deadly poison to the things we are trying to kill, and much more mild poisons to ourselves. The whole point is that we are killing something that is bad for us, using a substance that we are strong enough to endure and recover from.
So, in short, I would avoid using hydrogen peroxide on a small cut when there is a better alternative like Neosporin (or even salt water). But if you have a puncture wound or something where there is a real possiblilty of developing a severe or deadly infection, then it seems wise to irrigate the heck out of it with a strong anticeptic like 3% hydrogen peroxide... Yeah, you may lose a few cells on the surface of your injury, but you also kill various staff germs, etc.
And, you can protect the wound so that your body quickly recovers from any surface damage the sterilization might have done and get on with fully healing.
If you have a bacterial infection,
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Comment #19
(Posted by BJC)
I use half strength vinegar to clean my mirrors and windows with and it works like a charm....haven't tried the hydrogen peroxide yet but will.
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Comment #20
(Posted by Mark Zakariya)
It should be noted that applying Hydrogen Peroxide to an open wound GREATLY increases the chances of scarring. When I was 13, I applied it to VERY shallow wounds on my forearm. They did not heal correctly; the skin is of a different color tone (ie: scar).
I'd use alcohol next time.
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Comment #21
(Posted by Brian Cleary)
I've been using Hydrogen peroxide for about two years to brush my teeth. It works great, my dentist has commented on how much less tartar I have. My mouth feels much cleaner and I'm more confident with my smile.
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Comment #22
(Posted by Melanie Leavey)
If your dog (or you!) ever gets sprayed by a skunk - hydrogen peroxide is the best thing for getting the stink out. I used it in a 1:5 dilution with water to spray directly on the dog (mind the eyes), I have a recipe for a 'shampoo' as well, and it's also great in the laundry for removing the smell that clung to all of our clothes after working with our poor Oscar. The 3% solution from the drugstore is all you need and at about 99 cents a bottle,it's a much cheapter solution than the expensive 'skunk out' products you can buy at the pet supply store! Trust me, this works....we had two spraying incidents in one summer!!
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Comment #23
(Posted by Michael - Green Living Tips)
Thanks everyone for your continued tips and feedback, keep the comments coming :)
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Comment #24
(Posted by Sally Brynard)
I have a number of enquireies about putting HP in rainwater tanks to clean the water and/or remove odour. Does this work and how should it be applied.
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Comment #25
(Posted by Rachel!~:>(chicken))
I read this article and I was wondering if it would do any harm when using to bleach hair. Would it? I don't want my hair it be fried or me to be sick. Any good answers? Thx!
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Comment #26
(Posted by Wendy)
Rachel...trust me it will turn your hair ORANGE!
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Comment #27
(Posted by Michael - Green Living Tips)
Rachel, I used to use Hydrogen Peroxide in my hair for streaking (hey, it was the 80's!) and it didn't go red, but I did it over a long period of time using a relatively weak solution.
Back in those days, hairdressers used to use 40 vol peroxide for the bleaching, but when I was getting it professionally done, they had to use 60 vol peroxide I think; pretty heavy duty stuff and something I wouldn't mess with myself. However, they also used lots of other goop as well, without it, my hair would have turned red like Wendy said. I'm not even sure if hairdressers still use hydrogen peroxide these days?
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Comment #28
(Posted by Sauty)
I have used Hydrogen peroxide 3% solution 1:1 for my garden & it is growing like nuts + I also add vinegar once a year. no more fertilizer
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Comment #29
(Posted by Carol Amiri)
Hydrogen Peroxide also works on bug bites. Stops the itch immediately.
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Comment #30
(Posted by Nicole)
I want to use the HP daily to brush my teeth. I know one commenter on here said he did, so my ? is, are you using the HP mixed with baking soda? How exactly are you using it???
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Comment #31
(Posted by Joe)
Hi there,
I am a registered nurse. In the hospital where I work, we no longer use hydrogen peroxide to clean wounds, but some hospitals still do. 3% peroxide solution does kill bacteria, but it also causes lysis (cell destruction) of the granular cells the body produces to heal wounds. It will take longer for a wound to heal if you routinely use peroxide to clean it. However, it is acceptable to use peroxide on the fresh wound to rinse debris and it also can help to slow bleeding. But the better wound cleaners to use are betadine or chlorhexadine (aka Hibiclens). Both can be purchased at drugstores. Hibiclens is currently the preferred wound cleaner at the hospital where I work due to many people having betadine allergies, And remember, for deep cuts and wounds....go to an ER. However, for general household surface cleaning, peroxide is a great cleaner, and is safer for the environment than bleach. Peroxide will kill many bacteria, virus's and fungals (molds) as well as spores. But test it on an inconspicuous area first to make sure it wont discolor the surface you are cleaning.
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Comment #32
(Posted by katrina schumann)
YES! happy to see someone (a nurse!) stating the fact that the 3% hydrogen peroxide KILLS VIRUSES! I was absolutely STUNNED to learn this: all my life (i am 29 twice) I have heard that nothing can be done for viruses; folks; the 2 for $1 bottle of 3% hydrogen peroxide kills not only nasty bacteria but VIRUSES! Also, when used in seperate spray bottles using 1st hydrogen peroxide & then vinegar, the combination effect is 10 xs stronger than each by itself; & this combination is STRONGER & MORE EFFECTIVE than clorine and any other toxin made. Sad but true, our Gov would rather HIDE this because they cannot make big bucks off it; kills e coli, salmonella, & a host of other nasties;
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Comment #33
(Posted by Don Gibbons)
Has any one heard about using a hydrogen peroxide mix
on turf to control dollar spot fungus, at the rate
of 1 qt.mixed with 5 gal. of water and applied with a
tank sprayer ?
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Comment #34
(Posted by Liz Haugen)
I use hydrogen peroxide to brush my teeth just about every other day. First I brush regularly with average tooth paste for about 2 minutes, then I take just a little bit more than a capful of hydrogen peroxide (right our of the brown bottle) and swish it in my mouth. I spit ALMOST all of it out and then brush on top of it (brushing mostly on my teeth and less so on my gums). After about a minute of brushing I spit it out and rinse with water. People constantly ask me what I use to whiten my teeth. They are very white.
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Comment #35
(Posted by Liz Haugen)
I forgot earlier to mention that when brushing your teeth with peroxide that sometimesa if you dip your toothbrush into a little bit of baking soda it can help do whiten as well. Since baking soda is has a slightly abrasive (but non damaging) texture to it leaves your mouth sparkling clean and your teeth feeling really nice. Alsooo... just another quick tip but if you ever experience chapped/flaky lips... before running for chapstick grab some sugar. Just dampen your finger, dip your finger in a little bit of sugar (it should stick to your finger tip) and rub it in a circular pattern across your lips. This will take off any dead skin or chapped layers. Then apply vasiline. Your lips will be happy, full, and healthy and will look fantastic against your white teeth.
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Comment #36
(Posted by Michael - Green Living Tips)
Great to see all this interest in Hydrogen Peroxide as a more environmentally friendly alternative to all sorts of things :). Keep the ideas coming :)
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Comment #37
(Posted by Donna)
What about using peroxide to clean jewelry? I have been using it to clean my diamond wedding band and it has really helped cut down on the regular irritation my on my finger. But... I still don't know for sure if it's okay on the diamonds and white gold. So far so good (2x a month for a couple years now)
Has anyone else done this? Try it... you'll be grossed out by the crud that bubbles out of your rings.
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Comment #38
(Posted by Kitty Reid)
I'm looking for advice on using vinegar and HP as a carpet cleaning solution. I've seen both of them recommended as stain removers and wondered if they'd work in a carpet cleaning machine? I don't know if they can be mixed? Maybe they could be used in solutions separately to use in a carpet cleaner?
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Comment #39
(Posted by Criss)
To the person who said most of us don't keep saline solution around the house...well, some of us do. It's called contact lens solution. Not eyedrops, but the big bottle used to rinse lenses. It comes in...I don't know, maybe a pint bottle? and has a little squirt top so you can irrigate wounds without contaminating the sterile saline solution. Just make sure it's plain saline solution without other chemicals added.
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Comment #40
(Posted by William ruiz)
Paint remover from any porous surface such as concrete or brick. Mix 2H2O along with baking soda into paste consistency(sic?) and rub on paint be it dried or fresh. Works like David Copperfield.
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Comment #41
(Posted by Debi)
I am also a nurse (in Aust). I used HP 3% only last week to dissolve glue that was covering head sutures on a patient. We still use it a lot, however it is always diluted with NaCl and only used really for wounds with a lot of debris (pus etc) or what we classify as "dirty" wounds. After 30 seconds or so of bubbling, the wound is rinsed with saline only, then dressed.
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Comment #42
(Posted by Magasiv)
To Marrisa
I lighten elbows and knees: try lemon juice. Just rub it on, let it dry and the clean it off. Do this every day.
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Comment #43
(Posted by joe)
i use hp in my hair with basic white and its excellent
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Comment #44
(Posted by melody)
As far as hair lightening goes, i have dipped my finger tips in it and successfully lightened my hair after running my wet fingers through small sections of my hair. It only lasts for a while, but its a great way for a few streaks for someone with very light brown hair for a while.
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Comment #45
(Posted by Sara in Cypress)
I see that HP is "less damaging" to the environment, but I was wondering how much less? We worry more about the ability to biodegrade, but what about the environmental impact of the production of HP? Anyone know? I've been using HP in my entire house and saving lots of bucks because of it. It's such a great cleanser for the kitchen and bathroom... It's my "everything" spray. Just want to make sure it really doesn't hurt the environment.
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Comment #46
(Posted by Rose)
Hydrogen Peroxide is supposed to be H2O2, therefore, if it breaks up into H2O (water) and O (oxygen atom), I expect, it can't do to much damage to the environment.
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Comment #47
(Posted by Tia, New Zealand)
Hi all, I just wanted to say that I grew up in Northern Italy, and as a kid I always used 3% Hydrogen Peroxide on any wound, scuff, cut, etc, to clean and disinfect, & I don't have any scars, nor did I ever get any infections. (I remember that the other option was alcohol which would sting, A LOT!).
Also, my mum, who had long dark hair, used to bleach her hair with peroxide (6%),I don't know about the first time she bleached the whole lot, but I do remember that almost every weekend she would touch up the dark roots with cotton wool soaked in 6% peroxide, and let the sun dry it off, she did this fron the age of 35 to about 55+, and her hair was ok, maybe a bit thinner than now it's dark again (she's 74 with less grey than me and a FULL head of very healthy hair!!).
I'm not sure why we ever stopped using it, but I've started again lately because I run a cat rescue and get scratched all the time, since using it, and colloidal silver, I've not had any infected cuts!
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Comment #48
(Posted by Steve)
I was wondering about the use of HP on roof shingles
A friend of mine told me that in south florida they use to remove meldew fromthe terracota tiles on roof.
Right now in using 12% cloryne and not to happy about the damage to plants.
Whould it work?
And if so do i need to delute it with destilled water?
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Comment #49
(Posted by monica)
Here where iam, we do not have already made 3% hydrogen peroxide but 10%, how can i dilute to come up with 3% hydrogen peroxide?
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Comment #50
(Posted by james)
One of the comments states that peroxide can be use as a wine stain remover, this is true if it is a white carpet, peroxide will bleach the colour out of your rug
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Comment #51
(Posted by Brian)
Let's clear up some bad information in the previous information:
First, you can't KILL a virus. A virus is a protein. It invades a cell and changes the way a cell operates. Peroxide might eliminate a virus, but it will never kill one. This is why most MDs won't prescribe antibiotics routinely without first getting a culture. A viral sore throat is no less painful than a bacterial one, so asking for an antibiotic based on your pain is often useless and can actually be harmful. See natural selection.
Secondly, peroxide is incredibly irritating to wounds. It is no longer recommended to clean wounds. As a matter of fact, in our emergency department we have recently switched to tap water for use in wound irrigation. Recent studies that used tap water and sterile saline for irrigation found no difference in the efficacy of one versus another.
What to use on a fresh wound? Soap and water. Then cover it. Do this twice a day. Forget triple antibiotic ointment on minor cuts and scraps. Save your money. Good old soap and water. Keep wounds covered while you're out and about. Only uncover when in a clean environment, otherwise you will soon incur the redness and stinging pain that accompanies a staph infection. Good luck!
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Comment #52
(Posted by sig schnepf)
I hhave heard of someone using a mixture of hydrogen peroxide as the main ingredient for hot tubs, instead of chlorine. Any info on that?
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Comment #53
(Posted by Michelle)
I use hydrogen peroxide instead of bleach in my washing machine. Just pour a bit in the bleach dispenser and it really whitens clothes.
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Comment #54
(Posted by heather)
Wow, this has made for some very useful reading! I am a nurse working as a volunteer in Ecuador, and someone sent me down a LOT of H2O2, and knowing that it's no longer recommended for wound care, I was wondering what to do with it all. Now I know!
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Comment #55
(Posted by Lori)
Another Nurse Here :-) I Concur; mild soap and water for home care wounds is best cleaning method.
H2O2 isn't a great antiseptic or great disinfectant, but it is a good cleaner and it is a bleach. The foaming action we see in wounds is due to catalase released from cells. If there is some dead tissue that needs removed, it might be beneficial.
Some wound types require H2O2 or other debridment system, but these wounds aren't the type you usually care for without having seen a doctor or skin care nurse/specialist.
H2O2 will slow clotting not speed it, due to its dissolving action (which is why it is effective on blood stains).
The 3% H2O2 bought at your local store is normally 3% by volume. If it doesn't say, that is what it is.
The strength of a 3% by mass dilution of h2O2 is NOT the same and should not be used at the same rates as you see listed in the tips, until the strength/dilution is verified.
Diluting 10% H202 to 3% solution; Please Please, call the company that makes the product for directions or ask a local pharmacist if they can help you with the measurements. There is a difference between 10% mass and 10% volume. Dilutions are tricky business when converting without knowing which of those it is and what the beginning or final volume is. If you don't know, Don't guess--H2O2 at higher concentraions can be quite caustic.
Blessings
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Comment #56
(Posted by Dave Summers)
Regarding the comment on killing viruses, yes you can kill a virus as it is a living entity. It may be predominantly composed of protein (RNA) but this can be denatured, as can any other protein, either by heat or applying certain chemicals such as H2O2.
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Comment #57
(Posted by Maree)
My sister has been a nurse for the past 35 years. When she began her nursing career (in New Zealand), hydrogen peroxide was used extensively in hospitals on wounds etc. Over the years it has been fazed out as drug companies offered their wares.
Another nurse friend told me recently that they use hydrogen peroxide in hip replacement operations, it is sprayed directly into the body cavity to help bone growth, before the person is sewn up.
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Comment #58
(Posted by Chelsea)
Thanks for the great article and all the tips.
I think that's a good point about not putting anything on a wound that you wouldn't put in your eye, but would include soap then and possibly triple-antibiotic
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Comment #59
(Posted by Mike in VA Beach)
We use a 50/50 mix of hot water and 3% hydrogen peroxide to clean our carpets instead of traditional carpet cleaning solutions. For heavily soiled areas, we'll add a few drops of liquid dish detergent to one gallon of the water / hydrogen peroxide mixture. Carpets look and smell great without chemicals.
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